ACT I
After an overture, the scene opens on the Quarter-deck of the H.M.S. Pinafore off of Portsmouth, Britain's largest naval base. Sailors are busy at various tasks under the supervision of the Boatswain (Bos'n), Bill Bobstay, as they sing We sail the ocean blue. Little Buttercup, a Bumboat woman, appears and sings of her wares. For I'm called Little Buttercup — dear Little Buttercup. The Boatswain calls her round and rosy, but she suggests that something is eating at her heart, the first of her several suggestions that something earth-shaking will be coming.

Dick Deadeye enters. He is resigned to the fact that his looks and name make the others hate him. Soon Ralph (Rafe) "the smartest lad in all the fleet" comes up through the hatchway singing a sad madrigal about how he loves, alas, above his station. Buttercup comments that he loves a lass above his station and Ralph replies with the ballad A maiden fair to see, in which he tells how he, a lowly seaman, loves his captain's daughter. When Dick comments on the unsuitability of such a match the others recoil even though his remarks are sensible.

Captain Corcoran enters and greets his "gallant crew". I am the Captain of the Pinafore. He boasts that though he is related to a peer he can do all the jobs of a seaman, and he never uses a big, big D. "What never? Replies the crew and Corcoran finally equivocates with "Hardy ever". After the others leave, Buttercup reenters and, seeing the Captain looks sad, begs him to confide in her. He tells her his daughter, Josephine, is sought as a bride by Sir Joseph Porter, the First Lord of the Admiralty, a most prestigious man, but she is not interested. Buttercup is sympathetic and, as she leaves, Corcoran calls her "a plump and pleasing person" then exits himself.

Josephine enters singing of her sad fate. Sorry her lot who loves too well. When the Captain reappears she tells her father that she cannot marry Sir Joseph. Although she esteems him, she is in love with another, a lowly sailor on the H.M.S. Pinafore. Corcoran tries to convince her such a love is impossible, although someone so low-born might be brave, he could never succeed in polite society; he would commit solecisms at every step.

An off-stage barcarole announces the arrival of Sir Joseph. Soon all his Female Relatives appear and are welcomed by the sailors. Then the great man himself appears with his cousin Hebe, and he introduces himself with his great aria, When I was a lad, at the end of which he advises "Stick close to your desks and never go to sea, and you all may be Rulers of the Queen's Navee!". Porter compliments Captain Corcoran on his fine crew and hopes that he treats them kindly, doesn't use harsh words with them, and doesn't patronize them. He then asks him to "desire that splendid seaman to step forward" referring to Ralph.

CAPT. Ralph Rackstraw, three paces to the front — march!
SIR JOSEPH: If what?
CAPTAIN: I beg your pardon — I don't think I understand you.
SIR JOSEPH: If you please.

One must be polite because a "British sailor is any man's equal" (excepting, of course, Sir Joseph's).
(But the Captain doesn't learn his lesson. A little later the following occurs.

CAPTAIN; Boatswain ... see that extra grog is served out to the ship's company at seven bells.
BOAT Beg Pardon. If what, your honour?
CAPT: If what? I don't think I understand you.
BOAT: If you please, your honour. ...
SIR JOS: The gentleman is quite right. If you please!)

When Sir Joseph complements Ralph as a "remarkably fine fellow":

RALPH: There's not a smarter topman in the Navy, your honour, though I say it who shouldn't.
SIR JOSEPH: Not at all. Proper self-respect, nothing more.

When the Admiral asks Ralph if he dances the hornpipe and is answered in the negative, Sir Joseph offers to teach him one that evening and also gives him a song he has composed for sailors to sing. After the Captain, Sir Joseph and his Relatives leave. The others discuss the remarks on equality, and Dick comments that, in spite of what Sir Joseph said, when some have to obey the orders of another there can be no equality. The others recoil in shock as they do to all Dick's sensible remarks.

Ralph resolves to speak to Josephine and declare his love. The others, except for Dick, enthusiastically support his decision. During this conversation there is another typical Gilbertian bit of word-play.

RALPH: True, I lack birth —
BOS'N: You've a berth on board this very ship.

They then sing the song Sir Joseph has written to persuade Dick of the equality of British sailors. (A British tar is a souring soul). All leave except Ralph. Soon Josephine appears, complaining to herself of Sir Joseph's unwelcome attentions. She sees Ralph and, when he refers to himself as "poor Ralph Rackstraw", she ask why "poor". He replies in a way that belies his lowly birth and lack of education. This is another hint of what is to come.

RALPH: ... In me there meet a combination of antithetical elements which are at eternal war with one another. Driven hither by objective influences — thither by subjective emotions — wafted one moment into blazing day, by mocking hope—plunged the next into the Cimmerian darkness of tangible despair, I am but a living ganglion of irreconcilable antagonisms.

He then declares that he loves her. Though inwardly she is thrilled, she puts him off by referring to the disparity of their ranks and, rebuffing him by telling to find someone of his own poor rank, she exits. Ralph calls the other sailors and tells them of her rejection. While they commiserate, and Dick says, "I told you so" Ralph resolves to kill himself. The Bos'n hands Ralph a pistol but, just as he puts it to his head, Josephine reappears and stops him by confessing that she loves him. All join in singing Oh joy, oh rapture unforeseen. While the others plan to steal away for a wedding that evening, Dick predicts disaster.

ACT II That night.
The Captain sings Fair moon, to thee I sing, accompanying himself on the mandolin. He complains that everything is at sixes and sevens, with the crew rebelling, and Sir Joseph threatening a court martial. Little Buttercup has been watching him sentimentally. She loves him but, thinking of the differences in their ranks, he says he can never be more than her friend. Once more there is a premonition of things to come when she replies, "There is a change in store for you" and then sings Things are seldom what they seem. The Captain is completely mystified by the song.

Sir Joseph appears; he cannot understand why Josephine is rejecting his advances. The Captain suggests she might be awed by his exalted rank and, if Sir Joseph could convince her that love levels all ranks, she might be won over. They go, and Josephine enters and sings of her conflict in The hours creep on apace. If she marries Ralph, she will be giving up all her present luxuries for a life of relative toil and poverty. But she is in love. She can't decide between love and luxury.

The Captain reappears with Sir Joseph who tells Josephine that love levels all: "The high and lowly may be truly happy together, provided they truly love one another". Unknowingly, he is pleading his rival's case. The three then sing Never mind the why and wherefore, Love can level ranks and therefore. After Sir Joseph and Josephine leave, each thinking of their own loves, Dick Deadeye approaches the Captain and warns him of the planned elopement of Ralph and Josephine. Corcoran resolves to stop them and wraps himself in a cloak as a disguise. The Crew, Ralph, the Boatswain, Josephine and Little Buttercup tiptoe in trying to steal away for the wedding. The Captain stamps his foot to make a noise..

ALL: Goodness me, why what was that.
DICK: Silent be, it was the cat....
CAPTAIN: (producing a cat-o'-nine-tails) They're right it was the cat!

He throws off the cloak and confronts them. Where are they going?; the crew is scarcely fit company for his daughter. Ralph defends himself: he has dared to raise his eyes to Josephine; after all, he is an Englishman! As the whole cast appears, the Captain is so angry that he forgets himself and, to the horror of all, uses a swear word, the big D! Sir Joseph is so upset on hearing this he sends the Captain to his cabin; he is quite sure a fine fellow like Ralph could not have done anything to cause such annoyance. Ralph starts to say that he is only a topman and Sir Joseph interrupt to comment that he must be a very exalted one. Just then, Josephine runs in and throws herself into Ralph's arms. Sir Joseph changes his tune; the "fine fellow" is suddenly a "presumptuous mariner" whom he wishes to throw in the "dungeon" of the ship. Ralph and Josephine sing farewell, and he is led to the brig where he will have no telephone.

Amid the confusion, Buttercup interrupts; it is time to reveal the secret she has been hiding. Many years ago, when she was a baby-farmer, she was tending two babies, one of low status and the other of the upper crust. Somehow she managed to mix them up, and the two babies grew up to be Captain Corcoran and Ralph Rackstraw! Sir Joseph has them summoned and they appear. Somehow they have also learned about the switch because Ralph is now dressed as a Captain and Corcoran as a common sailor! Josephine, as the daughter of a common sailor, is now of too low a rank for Sir Joseph, so he bestows her on Ralph and decides to marry his cousin Hebe. In addition, the former Captain can now marry the lowly Buttercup and all three couples will marry on the following morning. All join in three cheers for Captain of the Pinafore.

Note: These illustrations are by Alice B. Woodward from The Story of H.M.S. Pinafore by W.S. Gilbert, G. Bell and Sons, Ltd. 1913. This was written for children and adds considerably to the story. It may be found at
http://www.math.boisestate.edu/GaS/pinafore/book/index.html

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Revised January 2008
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